Method and apparatus for feeding paste in tobacco processing machines



Sept. 3, 1968 w. RUDSZINAT 3,400,007

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING PASTE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jnventor:

willy Rudszinat y mm J. vina- HIS Attorney Sept. 3, 968 w. RUDSZINAT 3,400,007

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING PASTE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet z Inventor:

Willy Rudszinat mw M his Allor'ney Sept. 3, 1968 w. RUDSZINAT 3,400,007

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING PASTE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES Filed March 31, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet Jnvenlor:

Willy Rudszinat by flu'cdaJA/Jvhhis Altorney Sept. 3, 1968 w. RUDSZINAT METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING PASTE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 31, 1964 mw a. vl'h 'v his Attorney United States Patent 3,400,007 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING PASTE IN TOBACCO PROCESSING MACHINES Willy Rudszinat, Hamburg-Lohbrugge, Germany, assignor to Hauni-Werke Kiirber & Co. KG., Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Mar. 31, 1964, Ser. N 0. 356,266 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Apr. 1, 1963,

. 12,795/63; Mar. 2, 1964, 8,642/64 19 Claims. (Cl. 117-44) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Paste is fed to a rotary member in a tobacco processing machine through a supply conduit which can be sealed by a valve located close to its discharge end to prevent further escape of paste. Delivery of paste to the rotary member can be terminated in automatic response to reduction in the rotational speed of the rotary member, by moving the rotary member away from engagement with the material to which it delivers paste, by closing the valve, by placing the discharge end so close to the rotary member that the viscosity of paste sutfices to impede escape when the rotary member is idle, or by using a pump which feeds paste only when the rotary member is to receive paste.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for feeding and applying paste in cigarette machines, cigar machines and similar tobacco processing machines wherein a tube consisting of paper or similar flexible web material is wrapped around a rod-like filler of tobacco or filter material. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved paster which serves to deliver paste to overlapping marginal portions of tubular wrappers in rods containing tobacco or filter material.

In many types of such pasters, a peripheral portion of a rotary applicator wheel extends into a peripheral groove of a rotary transfer wheel to receive therefrom a stream of paste which is fed into the groove through a suitable supply conduit. The two wheels form a rotary unit which serves to receive, transfer and supply a continuous stream of viscous paste.

The present invention relates to an improved paster which embodies a rotary unit of such general character, and one of its objects is to provide a paster wherein the delivery of paste to the groove of the transfer wheel is automatically terminated, without any delay, when the wheels are arrested or when the machine in which the paste-r is used does not operate at normal speed, i.e., when the machine is idle or when it operates at a speed which is below a predetermined minimum speed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a paster of the just outlined characteristics which is constructed and assembled with a view to eliminating or reducing waste in adhesive material, to prevent soiling of the paster and/ or of the machine in which the paster is used, to prevent uncontrolled incrustation of paste, and to insure that a film of satisfactory paste begins to flow as soon as the transfer wheel is set in motion.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved method of regulating the delivery of paste in a tobacco processing machine, and particularly for regulating the delivery of paste to a traveling wrapper in a cigarette machine, cigar machine or filter cigarette machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a paster wherein the applicator wheel is automatically moved away from contact with the wrapper of a tobacco rod as soon as the machine in which the paster is used fails to operate at nonmal speed or ,as soon as the operator desires to terminate the delivery of paste to the transfer wheel.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a paster which begins or ceases to discharge a thin film of paste in a fully automatic way, wherein the thickness of the film may be regulated with utmost precision and while the paster is in actual use, wherein the thickness of the film may be regulated at more than one point, and wherein the supply of paste may be renewed while the paster continues to discharge a film of adhesive material.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved control circuit for a paster of the above outlined characteristics.

With the above objects in view, one feature of my invention resides in the discovery of a method of regulating the delivery of paste in a tobacco processing machine wherein a stream of paste is fed to a rotary unit through the dischange orifice of a supply conduit. The method comprises the steps of rotating the unit and simultaneously feeding paste through the supply conduit so that the orifice discharges a continuous stream of paste which is taken up by the rotating unit, and discontinuing the delivery of paste to the unit, whenever necessary, by sealing the supply conduit in close proximity to the unit.

For example, the supply conduit may be sealed 'by a rotary valve membed, by a rotary valve housing, by movement of the supply conduit into actual sealing engagement with the rotary unit or vice versa, by pacing the supply conduit in such close proximity to the rotary unit that the orifice discharges a thin film of paste only when the unit rotates, and/or by providing a pump which is driven when the rotary unit is to receive paste and which is arrested with the rotary unit when the delivery of paste is to be discontinued.

In accordance with another important feature of my invention, the rotary unit is normally in contact with a travelling wrapper so as to apply a film of paste thereto. However, when the delivery of paste is to be interrupted, the unit is moved away from the wrapper simultaneously with sealing of the supply conduit so that, once the delivery of paste is terminated, there is absolutely no danger of smearing the wrapper, the tobacco rod and/or other parts of the tobacco processing machine.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic .of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved paster itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paster which embodies one form of the invention and wherein the admission of paste into the peripheral groove of a transfer wheel is controlled by a rotary valve member;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second paster wherein the admission of paste into the groove of the transfer wheel is controlled by a rockable valve housing;

FIG. 3 is a partly elevational 'and partly vertical sectional view of a third paster with an axially reciprocable supply conduit;

FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the third paster in a view 'as seen in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3, the paster being shown in operative position;

FIG. 5 illustrates the structure of FIG. 4 with the paster in idle position;

FIG. 6 is a partly elevational and partly vertical sectional view of a fourth paster wherein the evacuation of paste from the supply conduit is controlled by 'a gear P p;

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary vertical sect-ion through a portion of a paster which constitutes a slight modification of the fourth paster;

FIG. 7 illustrates certain parts of the fourth paster in a view as seen in the direction of 'arrow B in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged axial section through an adjustable sheave which is utilized in the paster of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partly elevational and partly sectional view of a fifth paster which constitutes a simplified version of the paster shown in FIGS. 3 to FIG. is an enlarged detail view of the fifth paster and shows the paster in a condition when the orifice of the nozzle is sealed by a crust of dried paste;

FIG. 11 illustrates the structure of FIG. 9 in a condition when the paster discharges a continuous film of paste;

FIG. 12 illustrates on a larger scale a detail of the structure shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the electric circuitry of a modified paster.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is shown a paster which serves to apply a thin stream or film of paste to a continuous wrapper of cigarette paper which is convoluted around a traveling tobacco filler to form therewith a cigarette rod 1. The film of paste is applied "between the overlapping marginal portions 2 of the tubular wrapper. The arrow 1a indicates the direction in which the cigarette rod 1 advances through the rod former of a cigarette machine.

The paster comprises a rotary unit including a transfer wheel 4 having -a peripheral groove 5 and being driven by a shaft 411 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 4b). This wheel 4 serves to transfer paste to a disk-shaped applicator wheel 3 which rotates in a clockwise direction (arrow 3b) and is driven by a shaft 3a. The shafts 3a, 4a are coupled to the main drive shaft of the cigarette machine through the intermediary of 'a suitable transmission, now shown, in a manner well known in the .art. The axes of the wheels 3, 4 which constitute the rotary unit are perpendicular to each other.

The concave face surrounding the groove 5 in the periphery of the wheel 4 has a curvature corresponding to that of the peripheral face on the wheel 3 so that the latter wheel will receive a continuous stream of paste when the shafts 3a, 4a rotate and when the groove 5 receives paste through the discharge orifice or orifices of a straight end portion or nozzle 6 provided at the discharge end of a straight supply conduit 7. This supply conduit is connected with a source of paste, not shown in FIG. 1, and such connection may comprise a flexible hose which is slipped onto the intake end of the supply conduit 7.

In accordance with the present invention, the flow of paste through the conduit 7 is regulated by a valve in the form of a tap 8 having a stationary housing 14 and a conical valve member 9 which is rotatable in the housing 14 and is provided with a transversely extending bore 9a. In FIG. 1, the valve 8 is closed because the bore 9a is out of registry with the nozzle 6. The discharge end of this nozzle is immediately adjacent to the bottom zone of the groove 5 at a point diametrically opposite the wheel 3. It will be noted that the nozzle 6 is very short, i.e., the valve 8 is closely adjacent to the rotary unit.

In order to open the valve 8, the valve member 9 must be rotated through 90 degrees, and such rotation :may be effected in a fully automatic way or manually by means of a handle 10 which is shown in phantom lines because it constitutes an optional feature of the paster. The means for automatically opening or closing the valve 8 comprises an electromagnet including a winding 13 and an armature 12 which latter is secured to and is rockable with the valve member 9. As shown, the valve member 9 comprises a coaxial extension 11 which is rigid with the armature 12. A torsion spring 15 serves to normally maintain the valve 8 in closed position in which 4 the nozzle 6 is sealed from the source of paste. One end of the spring 15 is secured to the radially extending portion of the armature 12 and the other end of this spring is anchored in a recess at the underside of the valve housing 14. When the armature 12 is free to follow the bias of the spring 15, it abuts against a fixed stop 12a provided in or on a stationary frame member F.

When the electromagnet is energized, the armature 12 is caused to turn in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 12b) so that the bore 9a registers with the passages of the nozzle 6 and the remainder of the supply conduit 7 and allows paste to fiow into the groove 5. The arrangement is preferably such that the motor which drives the wheels 3 and 4 is controlled by that same switch which completes the circuit of the electromagnet so that the nozzle 6 can discharge paste only when the wheels 3 and 4 rotate. If the operator decides to terminate the admission of paste into the groove 5, he merely turns the handle 10 through 90 degrees so as to return the bore 9a to the position of FIG. 1. Also, the operator may decide to temporarily reduce the rate at which the paste flows into the groove 5 by turning the handle through an angle of less than 90 degrees.

The paste which fiows into the conduit 7 is normally maintained at superatmospheric pressure so as to make sure that such paste begins to flow without delay whenever the bore 9a is in partial or in full registry with the passages of the nozzle 6 and the remainder of the supply conduit 7.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second paster which serves to apply a continuous narrow and thin film of paste to the overlapping marginal portions 38 of a web of paper or the like which is wrapped around a tobacco filler to form a cigarette rod or cigar rod 30. The rod 30 is advanced endwise in the direction indicated by an arrow 30a and is caused to pass along a suitable knife, now shown, which severs it to yield sections of requisite length.

The paster comprises a disk-shaped applicator wheel 31 which corresponds to the wheel 3 of FIG. 1 and which receives paste from the peripheral groove 32b of a transfer wheel 32. The end portion or nozzle which feeds paste to 'the groove 32b is concealed in a valve housing 34 which is rockable about the axis of a fixed valve member 35 corresponding to the valve member 9 of FIG. 1. The nozzle is in registry with the remainder of a supply conduit 33 which is connected with a flexible hose 36 leading to a pressure tank or to another suitable source of paste. In the position of FIG. 2, the nozzle is sealed from the hose 36 because the valve housing 34 has been rocked about the axis of the valve member 35 in a sense to keep the wheel 31 out of contact with the overlapping marginal portions 38. The valve member 35 is fixed to a frame member 37 which is permanently or detachably mounted in a cigarette machine or cigar machine. The valve housing 34 is rockable with the nozzle, with the remainder of the supply conduit 33, and with a platform 39 which supports the shaft 51 of the applicator wheel 31. The valve housing 34 further supports the shaft 32a of the transfer wheel 32, i.e., the unit including the wheels 31, 32 may be rocked with the valve housing to travel about the axis of the valve member 35. The housing 34 may be rocked by hand, e.g., through the intermediary of a handle 10a (shown in phantom lines) or in a fully automatic way by means of an electromagnet including an armature 43 and a coil 44. The armature 43 is fixed to the platform 39 and the coil is mounted on the frame member 37.

The platform 39 comprises a front portion 40 which may extend into an arcuate cutout 41 provided in a channelled guide or support 42 for the rod 30. The front portion 40 will extend into the cutout 41 when the paster is in operative position, i.e., when the applicator wheel 31 engages the overlapping marginal portions 38 after the valve housing 34 is turned in a counterclockwise direction (arrow 39a). As a rule, the valve housing 34 will be kept in the position of FIG. 2, for example, by means of a suitable spring 45 which acts between the platform 39 and frame member 37 and which normally maintains this platform in abutment with a fixed stop, not shown, corresponding to the stop 12a of FIG. 1. When the electromagnet is energized, namely, when the circuit of the coil 44 is completed, the armature 43 causes the valve housing 34 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction (arrow 39a) andto move the front portion 40 of the platform 39 into the cutout 41 so that the marginal portion of the wheel 31 engages the wrapper of the rod 30. This is the operative position of the paster and the groove 32b then automatically receives paste from the hose 36 because the bore of the valve member 35'registers with the passages of the supply conduit 33and itsnozzle.

The means for driving the applicator wheel 31 comprises a driver gear 46 which is rotated by the main drive shaft of the machine, a pulley 47 which is coaxially secured to the gear 46 so as to rotate about the axis of the fixed valve member 35, an endless V-belt 48 which is trained around the pulley 47, and a sheave 50 which is fixed to the shaft 51 of the wheel 31. The belt 48 also drives a second sheave 49 which is connected with the shaft 54 of a bevel gear 53 mating with a bevel gear 52 on the shaft 32a of the transfer wheel 32. The shaft 54 is rotatable in the platform 39. The diameters of the pulley 47 and sheaves 49, 50 will determine the rotational speed of the wheels 31 and 32.

It will be noted that the paster of FIG. 2 automatically ceases to supply paste when the applicator Wheel 31 is moved away from the rod 30, and that the delivery of paste is resumed in a fully automatic way as soon as the wheel 31 returns in engagement with the overlapping marginal portions 38 of the wrapper. The main difference between the pasters of FIGS. 1 and 2 is that the former comprises a rotary valve member 9 whereas the valve member 35 is stationary. The paster of FIG. 2 can be said to constitute an improvement over that shown in FIG. 1 because closing and opening of the valve will take place simultaneously with movement of the applicator wheel 31 away from or in contact with the wrapper.

The paster of FIG. 2 is of particular advantage when it is desirable to interrupt the delivery of paste ,to the overlapping marginal portions of a tobacco rod wrapper and when such interruption should take place without any delay. Thus, and referring to FIG. 1, there is always the possibility that a comparatively small quantity of paste will be transferred to the overlapping marginal portions 2, even if the valve is closed, provided that the wheels 3 and 4 continue to rotate through a few revolutions or through a fraction of a single revolution. In the paster of FIG. 2, such uncontrolled delivery of paste is prevented because the wheel 31 is movable bodily into and out of engagement with the rod 30. Thus, and as soon as the operator wishes to terminate the delivery of paste, he simply turns the handle a or energizes the electromagnet 43, 44 to move the valve housing 34 to the position of FIG. 2 and to prevent further delivery of paste to the marginal portions 38 of the wrapper. 1

FIGS. 3 to 5 illustrate a third paster which comprises a source of paste here shown as an upright cylindrical tank 60 containing a supply of paste P and accommodating a piston 59 whose piston rod 59a is slidable in the top end wall 60a of the tank. A pipe 62 which extends through the wall 60a serves to deliver compressed air or another gas into a compartment above the piston 59 so that the paste P filling the tank beneath this piston is maintained at superatmospheric pressure. The top wall 60a is detachably secured to the cylindrical wall of the tank 60 by a series of bolts 60b or by similar fasteners. The lower end portion of the tank 60 communicates with a vertical supply conduit 63 which includes an end portion or nozzle 64 having a concavo-convex end face 65 whose curvature is complementary to that of the face surrounding a peripheral groove 66a in a transfer wheel 66. This wheel is rotatable about the axis of a horizontal drive shaft 66b and serves to deliver paste to the periphery of an applicator wheel 67 which is driven by a vertical shaft 67a so as to apply a continuous film of paste to the overlapping marginal portions 68a of a tubular wrapper which is convoluted around a tobacco rod to form therewith a cigarette rod or cigar rod 68.

When the tank 60 is moved to the operative position of FIG. 3 or 4, the end face 65 is slightly spaced from the face which surrounds the groove 66a so that the nozzle 64 and the transfer wheel 66 define between themselves a narrow gap 78. When the paster is idle, the nozzle 64 abuts against the periphery of the transfer wheel 66, see FIG. 5, so that there is no discharge of paste.

The shaft 66b of the transfer wheel 66 is rotatable in a stationary frame member 61a which comprises a vertically extending guide sleeve or carrier 61 for the supply conduit 63. The conduit 63, and hence the tank 60, is reciprocable vertically so as to move the end face 65 of the nozzle 64 nearer to or further away from the periphery of the transfer wheel 66.

The tank 60 normally tends to take a position in which there is no discharge of paste, i.e., the tank tends to move downwardly, as viewed in FIGS. 3 to 5. As a rule, the weight of the tank will suflice to prevent uncontrolled discharge of paste. However, and to make sure that there is absolutely no possibility of discharging paste when the wrapper of the rod 68 is not ready to receive such paste, the apparatus comprises means for biasing the tank to inoperative position, and such biasing means comprises a pair of helical springs 69, 77 which are connected to lugs 61b, 61c and to hooks 69a, 77a. The books are detachably carried by a nut 71 which meshes with an externally threaded portion of the supply conduit 63. It will be noted that the supply conduit comprises two coaxial sections one of which is integral with the bottom part of the tank 60 and the other of which is integral with the nozzle 64. The two sections are telescoped into each other and the externally threaded portion 70 forms part of the lower section which receives the lower end of the upper section. Thus, if the operator wishes, he can simply lift the tank 60 out of the lower section of the supply conduit 63 while the nozzle 64 continues to discharge a film of paste.

The guide sleeve 61 carrier two radially extending coaxial pivot pins 72, 73 which support levers 74, 75 having short upwardly extending arms which abut against the underside of an adjusting nut 76. This nut is screwed onto the externally threaded portion 70 of the supply conduit 63 at a level below the nut 71 and determines the maximum width of the gap 7 8. The longer arms of the levers 74, 75 are articulately coupled to the armature 83 of an electromagnet 82. This electromagnet is mounted on a bracket 82a carried by the frame member 61a. Helical springs 84 act between the bracket 82a and the levers 74, 75 to assist the springs 69, 77 in preventing escape of paste from the nozzle 64 when the paster is idle. FIG. 5 shows one of the springs 84 in expanded condition. When the electromagnet 82 is energized, the armature 83 is retracted to move downwardly and to rock the levers 74, 75 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, whereby the shorter arms of the levers lift the adjusting nut 76 together with the tank 60 and supply conduit 63 in order to move the end face 65 away from the periphery of the transfer wheel 66. By rotating the nut 76, the operator will select the maximum width of the gap 78 and the rate at which a film of paste issues from the nozzle 64. The width of the gap 78 is uniform in all zones thereof because the outline of the end face 65 conforms to the outline of the face surrounding the groove 66a in the transfer wheel 66. This insures that the nozzle 64 cannot discharge paste when the end face 65 abuts against the wheel 66.

The paster of FIGS. 3 to 5 operates as follows:

When the electromagnet 82 is energized, the armature 83 moves downwardly and compresses the springs 84 whereby the levers 74, 75 lift the adjusting nut 76 together with the supply conduit 63 and nozzle 64 so that a film of paste begins to enter the groove 66a and is transferred to the marginal portions 68a, see FIG. 4. The electromagnet 82 is strong enough to overcome the combined bias of springs 84, 69 and 77. The rate at which the paste issues also depends on the pressure of air which is admitted through the pipe 62. The piston 59 constitutes a movable cover for the body of paste in the lower compartment of the tank 60.

If the operator desires to terminate the admission of paste to the groove 66a, he opens the circuit of the electromagnet 82 so that the springs 84, 69 and 77 immediately return the end face 65 in abutment with the periphcry of the wheel 66, see FIG. 5. The switch which opens or completes the circuit of the electromagnet 82 preferably also serves to open or to complete the circuit of the motor which drives the shafts 66b, 67a so that the nozzle 64 discharges paste only at such times when the wheels 66, 67 rotate.

If the paster is idle for extended periods of time, the operator normally closes a valve 62a which controls the admission of compressed gas into the compartment above the piston 59. If the upper part of the tank 60 is vented, paste P may be discharged by gravity flow; otherwise, the operator must make sure to open the valve 62a prior to starting the drive which rotates the wheels 66, 67 and prior to completing the circuit of the electromagnet 82.

It goes without saying that the functions of the springs 69, 77, 84 and electromagnet 82 may be reversed. Thus, the electromagnet could serve to keep the nozzle 64 in abutment with the wheel 66 and the springs could be used to keep the paster in operation when the wheels 66, 67 rotate. All modifications of the paster which are necessary to effect such reversal in functions will be self-evident to men skilled in this art.

Once the end face 65 of the nozzle 64 abuts against the wheel 66, the paste filling the nozzle 64 is mechanically sealed from the atmosphere so that it cannot develop a crust. Consequently, the nozzle 64 will begin to discharge a satisfactory film of paste immediately after its end face 65 is moved away from the wheel 66. It can be said that the paster of FIGS. 3 to comprises means for sealing the supply conduit 63 at a point in immediate proximity of the transfer wheel 66; in fact, this wheel actually seals the supply conduits 63 by coming in abutment with the end face 65 of the nozzle 64.

The paster of FIGS. 6 to 8 is quite similar to that of FIGS. 3 to 5 with the important difference that the supply conduit 92 of the tank 90 need not reciprocate with reference to the transfer wheel 95. This transfer wheel cooperates with an applicator wheel 96 which corresponds to the wheel 67 of FIG. 4. The tank 90 accommodates a vertically reciprocable piston 90a which is acted upon by compressed gas issuing through a pipe 91 correspond- Ing to the pipe 62 of FIG. 3.

The supply conduit 92 comprises a lower end portion or nozzle 93 having an end face 94 whose outline corresponds to the outline of the face bounding the peripheral groove 95a of the transfer wheel 95. The nozzle 93 and the wheel 95 define between themselves a narrow gap 98 for escape of paste into the groove 95:: of the wheel 95. The conduit 92 comprises two sections which are connected to each other by an adjusting nut 89 mounted on the lower conduit section and meshing with a threaded portion 89a of the upper conduit section. Thus, by the simple expedient of rotating the nut 89, the operator is in a position to select the width of the gap 38 and the rate at which paste will issue from the orifice 111 of the nozzle 93.

The nozzle 93 accommodates a positive displacement pump here shown as a small gear pump 97 which is mounted in a flattened portion of this nozzle so that its intermeshing gears 97a fill the entire cross-sectional area of the passage through which the paste descends toward the transfer wheel 95. This pump 97 serves as a valve and as a metering device to prevent or to regulate the flow of paste through the discharge orifice 111 of the nozzle 93. The shaft 100 of one of the meshing gears 97a in the pump 97 is driven by an infinitely variable belt transmission including a belt 101 which is trained around a first adjustable sheave 102 on the shaft 103 of the transfer wheel and around a second adjustable sheave 99 on the shaft 100. The means for driving the shaft 103 includes a driver gear 103a which is rotated by the main shaft of the machine, not shown, FIG. 7 shows that the width of the orifice 111 approximates the width of the groove 95a in the periphery of the transfer wheel 95.

FIG. 8 illustrates in'detail the construction of the adjustable sheave 99 on the shaft for one of the gears 97a in the pump 97. This sheave 99 comprises a first annular flange 104 which is rotatable with the shaft 100, a second annular flange 105 which is axially movable on the shaft 100 and which is biased in a direction away from the fixed flange 104 by a package of dished springs 106 received in the cylindrical hub 105a of the movable flange 105, a washer 107 which abuts against the outer end face of the hub 105a, and an adjusting screw 109 which is screwed into the shaft 100 and which may regulate the width of the gap 110 between the inclined faces of the flanges 104, 105. The flange 104 abuts against a collar 100a on the shaft 100.

The sheave 102 is constructed in the same way as the sheave 99, and the distance between its flanges is adjustable by a screw 109a. If the operator desires to change the output of the pump 97, he merely rotates the screws 109, 109a to change the speed ratio of the belt transmission. If the distance between the flanges 104, 105 of the sheave 99 is reduced, the belt 101 will move away from the axis of the shaft 100 and the gears 97a will be driven at reduced speed. The sheave 102 is adjusted simultaneously with the sheave 99 to make sure that the distance between its flanges increases and that the belt 101 remains under requisite tension. The r.p.m. of the shaft 100 increases if the width of the gap 110 between the flanges 104, 105 is increased so that the belt 101 may move nearer to the axis of the shaft 100.

The paster of FIGS. 6 to 8 operates as follows:

In the first step, the operator admits compressed gas through the pipe 91 so that the piston 90a presses paste into the supply conduit 92. In the next step, the operator starts the drive which rotates the gear 103a so that the shaft 103 drive the belt 101 and the sheaves 99, 102. The pump 97 begins to convey paste through the orifice 111 and into the groove 95a of the transfer wheel 95. The means which drives the gear 103a on the shaft 103 of the wheel 95 also drives the shaft 96a of the applicator wheel 96 so that the wheels 95, 96 always rotate at the time the pump 97 delivers paste into the grooves 95a. If the delivery of paste is to be interrupted, the operator merely stops the drive of the gear 103a. Such step can be carried out in a fully automatic way, for example, when the remaining parts of a cigarette machine or cigar machine are arrested for inspection, repair or for another reason.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show that the orifice 111 is comparatively short. As a rule, the length of this orifice will be less than the diameter of the nozzle 93 at a point upstream of the pump 97. This insures that only a small quantity of paste can remain in the orifice 111 when the pump 97 is idle. When the pump i idle, its gears 97a automatically seal the orifice 111 from the bulk of paste in the conduit 92 and tank 90.

It was found that the orifice 111 at the downstream side of the pump 97 retains very little paste, especially if the length of this orifice is comparatively small, i.e., if the pump is immediately adjacent to the end face 94 of the nozzle 93. This is shown in FIG. 6a. In fact, the short length of tube between the gears 97a and the periphery of the transfer wheel 95 is needed solely for the manufacturing purposes because this is the simplest way of insuring that the width of the gap 98 is uniform and that the 'pumpi97 will deliver paste to a selected portion of the wheel 95. As stated' above, if the length "ofthe orifice'111 does not exceed the average diameter of the nozzle 93, the paste remaining in'thi's "orifice is expelled without any delay as soon as the pump 97 is restartedkln other words, the mass of pasty material which is conveyed by the gears 97a when the shaft 100'is driven will immediatelyexpel any remnants of paste from the orifice 111 so that, for all practical purposes, the consistency of the film which is being fed to the groove 95a will be satisfactory as soon as the pump begins to operate. i

The paster of FIGS. 9 to 12 isquite similar to the paster of FIGS. 3 to 5 and, therefore, many of its parts are identified by similar numerals each followed by a prime. The main difference between the two pasters is that the one shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 operates without an electromagnet. This electromagnet is replaced by a threaded spindle 121 which is secured to and extends vertically upwardly from the supporting bracket 82a to take a nut 123 which opposes the bias of a spring 84'. If desired, the paster may comprise two spindles 121, one for each of the two levers of which only the lever 74' is actually shown in the drawings. The nuts 123, 76' serve to regulate individually the width of the gap 78' between the end face 65' of the end portion or nozzle 64' and the periphery of the transfer wheel 66'. The width of the gap 78 is normally adjusted in such a way that, for a given type of paste and fora given pressure prevailing in the tank 60, the paste will cease to flow from the nozzle 64' when the wheel 66 is arrested. As best shown in FIG. 10, the paste then forms a crust 126 which closes the gap 78 and which is destroyed automatically when the wheel 66 is restarted. A film 125 of flowing paste is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. This film 125 is transferred to the peripheral portion of the applicator wheel 67' which delivers it to the overlapping marginal portions of the paper tube on a cigarette rod 68 when the shafts 66b, 67a of the wheels 66', 67 rotate. I

In the paster of FIGS. 9 to 12, the supply conduit 63' is again sealed in immediate proximity of the transfer Wheel 66 butsuch sealing action is not due to relative movement between the transfer wheel and the nozzle of the supply conduit. Thus, and in order to prevent uncontrolled escape of paste, I rely on the physical properties of conveyed material'including the pressure and viscosity of paste. Of course, the width of the gap 78 also plays an important role to insure that the evacuation of paste will be terminated when the wheel 66 is arrested. In this paster, the sealing action is brought about by the cohesive force (viscosity) of the past'y material. The width of the gap 78' is normally so small that the thickness of the crust 126 is negligibleandthat this crust can be destroyed without delay as soon as the transfer wheel 66 begins to rotate. Also, the width of the gap 78' is too small to cause excessive evaporation of moisture from the paste or'to allow for undesirable reactions between the ingredients of paste and the-atmospheric air.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention, the paster is started by completing an electric circuit, for example, by completing the circuit of an electric motor orby completing the circuit of an electromagnet. Also, it 'is normally preferred to complete the circuit at the time the main switch of the machine is closed. However, and since it' wonld be impossible to close by hand two switches at exactly the same time, the paster preferably comprises a control circuit one form of which is illustrated in FIG. '13.Th'is control circuit insures that the paster is operative only when the machine which receives paste operates'at fiormal speed and when the tobacco-containing rod to be supplied with paste is being fed, formed and otherwise processed in the required way. In other words, the control circuit of the paster insures that no paste is wasted, that paste cannot escape at the time it is not needed and that no energy is wasted for operation of the paster at the time the remaining parts of a cigarettemachine or cigar machine are idle.

Referring now in greater detail to FIG 13, there is shown a source ofelectrical energy and a main switch MS having moving contacts 142 and fixed contacts 131, 132. The switch MS is connected in series with the winding of'an adjustable time-lag relay 138 and with a centrifugal switch 134 which closes automatically when the main shaft of the machine operates" at normal speed. Such centrifugal switches are well known in the art and, therefore, the exact construction of the switch 134 forms no part of this inveI 1ti0 -vv It slifiices to say that the switch 134 is closed when the main shaft 140 rotates at normal operating'speed which means that the transfer wheel and the applicator wheel also rotate at normal speed. The relay 138 controls a switch 136 which is connected in series with an electromagnet 137 having an armature 137a which carries at its free end a valve member 141 serving to normally close a shutoff valve 141A corresponding, for example, to the valve 8 of FIG. 1. When the paster is idle, the valve member 141 is biased against an annular seat 141a by a helical expansion spring 139 which is accommodated in the housing 14112 of the valve 141A.

It goes without saying that the electromagnet 137 may be replaced by an electric motor which drives the shafts 3a, 4a of FIG. 1, the gear 46 of FIG. 2, the shafts 66b,

67a of FIG. 4, the gear 103a and shaft 96a of FIGS. 68,

or the shafts 66b, 67a of FIGS. 912.

The electromagnet 137 performs the same function as the electromagnet 12, 13 of FIG. 1 and the motor which drives the main shaft 140 also serves to drive the shafts 3a, 4a. The reference numeral 140a indicates a governor which automatically closes the switch 134 when the main shaft 140 rotates at normal speed. The nozzle 141c corresponds to the nozzle 6 of FIG. 1.

The operation of the system shown in FIG. 13 will now be described with the assumption that the shafts 3a, 4a are driven with the main shaft 140, that the valve member 141 is analogous to the valve member 9 and that the spring 139 is analogous to the spring 15.

When the main shaft 140 rotates at requisite speed, the governor 140a closes the switch 134. The main switch MS is already closed so that the switch 134 energizes the relay 138 which thereupon closes with some delay the switch 136 to energize the electromagnet 137 and to move the valve member 141 away from its seat 141a whereby a stream of paste may flow to the nozzle 1410 to enter the groove 5 of the revolving transfer wheel 4.

If the r.p.m. of the main shaft 140 reaches or drops below a predetermined minimum value, the governor 140a opens the switch 134 and the relay 138 is deenergized with some delay to open the switch 136 and to deenergize the electromagnet 137. The valve member 141 then moves against the seat 141a and prevents further discharge of paste through the nozzle 1410. The time-lag relay 138 serves to keep the circuit of the electromagnet 137 completed for a selected period of time, even if the switch 134 is open, to make sure that the delivery of paste is not terminated in response to a short-lasting reduction in the r.p.m. of the main shaft. Also, the relay 138 delays the energization of the magnet 137 if the r.p.m. of the main shaft 140 reaches a predetermined minim-um value for a very short period of time. In other words, the relay 138 insures that the delivery of paste takes place under normal operating conditions, but this relay does not respond to comparatively short changes in the r.p.m. of the main shaft.

A very important advantage of the control circuit shown in FIG. 13 is that the nozzle 141a will begin to discharge paste only at a time when the cigarette machine or cigar machine in which the paster is used completes the wrapping of a web around a tobacco rod so that the rod traveling past the applicator wheel is wrapped into a that the film of paste is not applied to the tobacco rod, to-

a non-overlapped portion of the wrapper, or to the conveyor which normally receives the rod.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of regulating the delivery of paste in a tobacco processing machine wherein a stream of paste is fed to a rotary unit through the discharge orifice of a supply conduit, comprising the steps of rotating the unit at a speed which exceeds a predetermined minimum speed and simultaneously feeding paste through the supply conduit so that the unit receives from the orifice a continuous stream of paste; and sealing the supply conduit to discontinue the delivery of paste in response to a reduction of said rotational speed to said minimum speed.

2. In a method of regulating the delivery of paste to a tubular wrapper in a tobacco processing machine wherein a stream of paste is fed through the discharge orifice of a supply conduit onto a rotary unit which applies paste to the wrapper, the steps of rotating the unit and advancing the wrapper endwise and simultaneously feeding paste through the supply conduit so that the orifice discharges a continuous stream of paste and the unit applies such paste to the advancing wrapper; disengaging the wrapper from the unit whenever necessary to terminate the application of paste to the wrapper; and sealing the supply conduit in close proximity to the unit in response to disengagement of the wrapper from the unit.

3. A method of regulating the delivery of paste in a tobacco processing machine wherein a stream of paste is fed to a rotary unit through the discharge orifice of a supply conduit, comprising the steps of placing the orifice in close proximity to the unit; rotating the unit and simultaneously feeding paste through the supply conduit so that a stream of paste issues through the orifice and is taken up by the revolving unit; and terminating the delivery of paste whenever necessary by reducing the distance between the orifice and the unit so that the unit seals the supply conduit.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the supply conduit is moved in engagement with and is sealed by the unit in response to termination of rotation of the unit.

5. An apparatus for applying paste to a traveling wrapper in a tobacco processing machine, comprising a rotary transfer member having a peripheral face; means for rotating said transfer member; a source of paste; a supply conduit connected with said source and comprising an end portion having a discharge orifice located in close proximity to said peripheral face so that, when said conduit delivers paste, the orifice discharges such paste against the peripheral face of said transfer member, said end portion having an end face conforming to the outline of said peripheral face; and means for moving one of said faces in and out of sealing engagement with the other face, when necessary, so that said transfer member automatically prevents discharge of paste through said orifice when the two faces are in sealing engagement with each other, said last mentioned means comprising resilient means arranged to bias said faces in sealing engagement with each other.

6. An apparatus for applying paste to a traveling wrapper in a tobacco processing machine, comprising a rotary transfer member having a peripheral face; means for rotating said transfer member; a source of paste; a supply conduit connected with said source and comprising an end portion having a discharge orifice located in close proximity to said peripheral face so that, when said conduit delivers paste, the orifice discharges such paste against the peripheral face of said transfer member, said end portion having an end face conforming to the outline of said peripheral face; and means for moving one of said faces in and out of sealing engagement with the other face, when necessary, so that said transfer member automatically prevents discharge of paste through said orifice when the two faces are in sealing engagement with each other, said last mentioned means comprising electromagnet means energizable at the will of the operator to move said faces in sealing engagement with each other.

7. An apparatus for applying paste to a traveling wrapper in a tobacco processing machine, comprising a rotary transfer member having a peripheral face; a source of paste; a supply conduit connected with said source and comprising an end portion having a discharge orifice and an end face located in close proximity to said peripheral face so that said faces together define a gap for discharging a stream of paste from said supply conduit; drive means for rotating said transfer member; a positive displacement pump provided in said end portion and normally sealing said orifice from said source; and means for operating said pump, when necessary, so that the pump then delivers a stream of paste through said gap.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said pump is a gear pump and wherein the gears of said pump are closely adjacent to the end face of said end portion.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means for operating said pump comprises a transmission which is driven by said drive means.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said transmission is an infinitely variable belt transmission.

11. An apparatus for applying paste to a traveling wrapper in a tobacco processing machine, comprising support means arranged to support a traveling wrapper; a rotary transfer member having a peripheral face; rotary applicator means having a first peripheral portion extending close to said face and a second peripheral portion normally engaging the wrapper in said support means; a drive for rotating said transfer member and said applicator means; a source of paste; a supply conduit connected with said source and having a discharge orifice adjacent to and arranged to deliver a stream of paste to said face so that, when said transfer member rotates with said applicator means, the latter transmits a film of paste to the wrapper in said support means; a device for moving one of said means toward and away from the other means so that, on movement of said one means away from the other means, the wrapper is disengaged from said applicator means; a valve provided in said conduit in close proximity to said face and movable between an open position and a closed position; and an operative connection provided between said device and said valve and arranged to close the valve in response to movement of said one means away from the other means so that the face receives paste only when the applicator means engages the wrapper in said support means.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said valve comprises a fixed valve member and a rotary housing connected with said device, said housing being rotatable between a first position in which it cooperates with said valve member to admit paste to said face and a second position in which it co-operates with the valve member to seal said source from said orifice.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said valve housing is connected with said transfer member and said applicator means so that said applicator means and said transfer member rotate with said housing.

14. In a tobacco processing machine, in combination, a main drive member arranged to rotate at a plurality of speeds; and an apparatus for applying paste to a traveling wrapper in said machine, said apparatus comprising a rotary transfer member having a peripheral face, a source of paste, a supply conduit connected with said source and having a discharge orifice located in close proximity to said face, valve means provided in said conduit in close proximity to said face and arranged to selectively seal or open said conduit so that a stream of paste may flow against said face when the conduit is open, and a control circuit responsive to the rotational speed of said main drive member and arranged to close said valve when the rotational speed of said main drive member drops below a predetermined minimum speed.

15. A combination as set forth in claim 14, wherein said control circuit comprises a time-lag relay arranged to delay opening and closing of said valve in response to shortlasting fluctuations in the rotational speed of said main drive member.

16. A combination as set forth in claim 14, further comprising a rotary applicator wheel co-operating with said transfer member and arranged to deliver paste from said face to the wrapper, and means for moving said applicator member away from the wrapper in response to closing of said valve.

17. In a tobacco processing machine, a conveying arrangement comprising conveyor means having a receiving face and means for normally moving said conveyor means at a predetermined speed; a source of paste; a supply conduit connected with said source of paste and having a discharge orifice located in the region of said receiving face so that paste passing from said source through said supply conduit and issuing from said orifice is applied to said conveyor means; means for discontinuing application of paste to said receiving face; and control means for actuating said discontinuing means, said control means being actuated by said conveying arrangement when the speed of movement of said conveyor means is less than said predetermined speed.

18. A conveying arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said discontinuing means comprises valve means provided in said supply conduit in close proximity to said discharge orifice.

19. A conveying arrangement as defined in claim 17, wherein said discontinuing means comprises pump means provided in said supply conduit in close proximity to said discharge orifice.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 655,254 8/1900 Ludington 131-69 X 832,289 10/1906 Boucher 131-68 1,782,180 11/1930 Ruau 13169 X 1,838,112 12/1931 Rundell 13169 X 1,899,628 2/1933 Molins 13169 X 3,095,121 6/1963 Douty et al. 222-52 3,123,252 3/1964 Kuntz 2221 ALFRED L. LEAVITT, Primary Examiner.

A. M. GRIMALDI, Assistant Examiner. 

